How to Build a Gun Safe Room – An Expert Chimes in (DIY)

Building a gun safe room is not an easy do it yourself project, but building a few for clients has given me some expertise and tips I can share to help you build your gun safe room.

In general the most efficient way to build a gun safe room is by using the two Ps: Planning and Preparation. Some simple steps are common including:

• Find an area of the house that doesn’t get much foot traffic, such as an attic or basement.
• Build out an enclosure area and door or put up a brick wall if you’re feeling extra paranoid.
• Install durable locks on every entrance door and window in order to keep people out
• Set up the guns and ammo on racks so it’s constantly easy to grab one when you need it.

Getting Started

If you do not have a gun safe room, your assets are still vulnerable.

It is essential to keep and secure your valuables in one place. And the best feasible option you can find in the market is hiding them in a safe or a vault. Unfortunately, most free-standing safes are displayed within the house in plain sight, leaving them open to theft. Therefore, it is necessary to store the safe behind the secret door of a safe room.

So, if you want to know how to build a gun safe room to hide your guns and valuables, this post is for you.

Types of Gun Safe Rooms

A gun safe room is multi-functional. Aside from being a safe place for your guns and valuable possessions, it also serves as a storage, display room, or hiding place in the event of an attack and emergencies.

If you want to create a gun safe room, you have to choose between two types of gun safe rooms: above-ground or underground chambers. Each room might possibly influence a particular space in your house, depending on its location.

1. Above-ground

Commonly, an above-ground gun safe room is on the house’s flooring surface. It is a windowless room with steel-fortified walls and a door frame for the vault.

If you have a windowless room, you may convert it into a gun safe room by reinforcing solid walls and a door frame.

To make it even more unnoticeable, match the color and the design to your interior decor. This type does not become prone to humidity as quickly as an underground type. However, you may still need to install AC units or add a dehumidifier to keep the temperature stable. (1)

2. Underground Safe Room

In comparison, you will find an underground safe room in the basement. Though it appears to be an ideal location for securing your guns from disasters, fire breakouts, and even attackers, the disadvantage is the increased presence of humidity.

Thus, this type requires expert assistance, regular checks, and some extra accessories and corrosion prevention.

Factors to Keep in Mind Before Building a Gun Safe Room

There are few factors to consider when planning to build a gun safe room.

First, you must select the best location for your gun safe room. If you have already decided on an above-ground or underground type, determine which section of the house is the perfect location.

Second, determine how much space you will need. If you want to use the area for anything other than storing firearms, you should consider a bigger space.

Lastly, choose the right door. Keep in mind that the door to your gun safe room is the foundation of the room’s security. You have the option of using a standard door or a reinforced door. A steel door is ideal if you have an extensive collection of firearms and valuables.

The next step is to figure out how you are going to handle everything inside the room. In addition, budget is the next most important consideration. A more considerable cost is needed if you contemplate having a sophisticated room.

A room using everything such as an internet connection, a phone line, a portable toilet, artistic cabinetry, and similar utilities are more costly. However, a room just keeping firearms and valuables will cost less than you expect.

How to Build a Gun Safe Room

Building a gun safe room always starts with a two P’s formula: Planning and Preparation.

1. Planning

1. To guarantee that no overlooked details happen, create a design plan.
2. Consider how you will organize your items inside and what type of accessories you will utilize.
3. Analyze whether you will mount your weapons vertically or horizontally.
4. Perhaps you will consider adding racks or gun safe kits, or you may decide to build your own.
5. Think about the type of door you are installing.
6. Consider the fittings and fixtures to be included, such as lights, spy cameras, and so on.
7. Locate the ideal drill point for anchoring the gun safe.

After you plan out the room, prepare everything to get things done. What you essentially need as a DIYer is a toolbox with proper gear, ladder, new paint and brush, etc. Moreover, you will have to declutter the area.

2. Wall Options

The next concern about planning is the wall. If you choose a basement-style room, you will have to start over from scratch.

To build a sturdy wall, strengthen the exterior walls using reinforced concrete masonry structures.

You have two options for the walk-in gun safe room: build a new structure or convert one of your rooms into a gun safe room.

If you choose to convert, choose a room with no windows and begin working on the interior wall. Make sure to fortify the walls to ensure their strength.

3. Work on a Strong Door

A secure door is an essential aspect of constructing a gun safe room. A strong door for a gun safe room will limit the possibility of illegal access or damage.

If you want high security, use a vault door.

A vault door is built to endure extremely harsh climates and is available with manual or electronic locks. Because a vault door is heavy, it must be in a stable position to stay in place. You may build a disguised door by adding a regular door to the vault door to match the home texture.

4. Consider Proper Ventilation

You can be sure that your guns and other valuables are safe if your gun safe room has adequate ventilation. Because a gun safe room is prone to dampness, your items will most likely corrode and clog.

But keep in mind that adding ventilation might create a security breach; instead, use an AC unit to maintain a steady temperature.

5. Add necessary accessories and fixtures

LED lights, spy cameras, racks, cabinets, and necessary fittings enhance the aesthetics of your gun safe room. As much as you can simply organize your items, these accessories allow you to move freely inside the room and monitor it while you are not around.

Wrapping Up

Building a gun safe room from scratch or an unused space may be challenging, time-consuming, and cost a fortune. However, you will save more money and resources by keeping your valuable items in a safe room. And the best part is you can limit the access inside.

I hope you learn from us today. We would appreciate it if you could leave a comment and share this post.

Reference:
(1) AC units – https://home.howstuffworks.com/ac4.htm